CONFIDENTIAL 


TECHNICAL,  TRAINING 
HANDBOOK 


OF    THE 


BROWNING  AUTOMATIC  RIFLE 

MODEL  OF  1918 
(Air  Cooled) 


PREPARED  AT 

THE    INFANTRY   SCHOOL   OF  ARMS 
FORT  SILL,  OKLAHOMA 


WAR  PLANS  DIVISION 

SEPTEMBER,  1918 


WAR    DEPARTMENT 

Document  No.  853 
Office  of  the  Adjutant  General 


WAR  DEPARTMENT 

Document  No.  853 
Office  of  the  Adjutant  General. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  September  7,  1918. 

The  following  confidential  pamphlet,  entitled  "Technical  Train- 
ing Handbook  of  the  Browning  Automatic  Rifle,  Model  of  1918" 
(technical  training  series,  prepared  at  the  Infantry  School  of 
Arms,  Fort  Sill,  Oklahoma),  is  published  for  the  information  and 
guidance  of  all  concerned. 
(062.1  A.  G.  O.) 

BY  ORDER  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR  I 

PEYTON  C.  MARCH, 

General,  Chief  of  Staff. 
OFFICIAL  : 

PETER  C.  HARRIS, 

Acting  Adjutant  General^ 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


PART  ONE 
METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTION 

(MECHANISM) 

PAGE 

Introduction  6 

Organization  of  Class 7 

Subjects 8 

Detailed  Method  of  Instruction 8 

Regulations  Concerning  Handling  the  Rifle 9 

PART  TWO 
SCHEDULE  OF  INSTRUCTION 

(MECHANISM) 

General   Remarks 1 1 

Lesson  I. — Nomenclature,   Stripping,  Assembling II 

Notes  on  Lesson  I 12 

Name 12 

Type   12 

Ammunition   13 

Cooling   System 13 

General  Data 13 

Sequence  of  Stripping 14 

Notes  on  Stripping 14 

To  Remove  Firing  Pin  Without  Stripping  Gun 15 

Sequence  of  Assembling 16 

Notes  on  Assembling 16 

Lesson  II. — Stripping  and  Assembling  Blindfolded 17 

Lesson  III. — Stripping  and  Assembling  Trigger  Mechanism. . .  17 

Notes  on  Trigger  Mechanism 17 

Sequence  of  Stripping 17 

Assembling  Trigger  Mechanism j8 

Lesson  IV. — Magazines 19 

Notes  on  Magazine 19 

Lesson  V. — Spare  Parts 20 

Notes  on  Spare  Parts 20 

3 

664364 


Lesson  VI.— Functioning 20 

Notes  on  Functioning 22 

General  Remarks 22 

First  Phase 22 

Action  of  gas 22 

The   slide 23 

Unlocking 23 

Withdrawal  of  firing  pin 24 

Extraction    24 

Ejection  24 

Termination  of  first  phase 24 

Second  Phase 25 

Action  of  recoil  spring 25 

Feeding 25 

Locking 26 

Priming  the  cartridge 26 

Termination  of  second  phase 26 

Action  of  Buffer 27 

Lesson  VII. — Functioning  of  Trigger  Mechanism 27 

Notes  on  Trigger  Mechanism 28 

Lesson  VIII. — Immediate  Action  (Classroom  Instruction)  ....  31 

Part  II 31 

Immediate  Action  Table 33 

Notes  on  Im mediate  Action 39 

Lesson  IX. — Immediate  Action  (on  range) 39 

Notes  on  Stoppages 40 

Causes  40 

Analysis  of  Various  Stoppages  (as  to  cause) 41 

Lesson  X. — Care  and  Preservation 43 

Points  to  be  Observed 43 

.      PART  THREE 
ELEMENTARY  DRILL 

General  Remarks 44 

Outline  of  Training  of  Automatic  Rifle  Section 44 

Instruction  of  the  Individual 44 

Who  Receives  It 44 

Scope  of  Instruction 44 

Firing  Positions 45 

Adjustment  of  the  Sling 45 

Marching  Fire 4^ 


PAGE 

Training  of  the  Gun  Team 49 

Scope  of  Training 49 

Formation  of  the  Team 49 

Duties  of  the  Members 50 

Loading  51 

Firing  51 

To  Lie  Down 52 

Marching  Fire 52 

Field  Cleaning 52 

The  Squad 53 

Posts  53 

Drill  53 

Duties  of  the  Corporal 53 

Deployments 53 

Continuous  Fire 54 

Advancing  55 

The  Section 55 


INTRODUCTION 


The  purpose  of  this  Handbook  is  to  give  methods  of  instruction 
to  be  used  in  teaching  mechanism  of  the  Browning  automatic 
rifle,  model  of  1918,  and  to  give  an  elementary  drill  of  the  rifle 
team  and  squad  in  so  far  as  pertains  to  the  handling  and  operation 
of  the  gun  in  firing. 

The  method  of  instruction  is  that  used  in  the  automatic  arms 
section  of  the  Infantry  School  of  Arms,  Fort  Sill,  Oklahoma,  and 
the  drill  is  an  adaptation  to  the  Browning  of  the  drill  for  the 
Chauchat  rifle,  as  prescribed  in  the  "Manual  of  the  Automatic 
Rifle,"  War  Department,  April,  1918. 

It  is  contemplated  that  this  book  shall  be  used  in  conjunction 
with  "Ordnance  Pamphlet  No.  1934,"  therefore,  the  construction, 
mechanism  and  care  of  the  weapon  is  not  dealt  with  in  full  herein. 
The  information  on  these  subjects  pertains  to  methods  of  instruc- 
tion, with  some  additional  notes  not  contained  in  "Ordnance 
Pamphlet  No.  1934." 

The  arrangement  of  subjects  is  according  to  sequence  of  in- 
struction. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  only  the  preliminary  instruction 
of  the  automatic  rifleman  is  covered  here. 


PART  ONE. 


METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTION.     %  , 

(MECHANISM). 
ORGANIZATION  OF  CLASS.  l      • 

1.  For   purposes   of   instruction    the    class   will   be   divided 
into  groups  of  three  to  four  men  (hereinafter  referred  to  as 
teams).     Each  team  will  be  assigned  to  a  particular  rifle  and 
will    work    on    that    rifle    throughout    the    remainder    of   the 
course.    An  assistant  instructor  (a  sergeant  or  corporal  here- 
inafter referred  to  as  sergeant-instructor),  will  be  assigned 
to  not  more  than  two  of  these  teams  and  will  supervise  the 
same  men  throughout  so  as   to  maintain  uniformity   of  in- 
struction.    There  will  be  at  least  two  commissioned  instruc- 
tors for  each  sixty  men  undergoing  instruction.    The  purpose 
of  such  division  is  to  fix  the  number  of  men  assigned  to  one 
rifle  so  as  to  obtain  maximum  efficiency  of  instruction.    More 
than  four  men  working  on  one  rifle  and  less  than  three  will 
not  give  the  best  results.      A  sergeant-instructor  cannot  effi- 
ciently give  detailed  supervision  to  more  than  two  teams,  nor 
a  commissioned  instructor  to  more  than  fifty  or  sixty  men. 
These  remarks  refer  to  the  thorough  instruction  of  a  class  in 
mechanism. 

2.  In   the   company   the   organization    will   be   as    follows: 
The  automatic  riflemen  of  the  company  will  be  combined  in 
one   class   under   two  commissioned   instructors.     Each   ser- 
geant will  supervise  his  own  section  (as  asistant  instructor) 
and  each  corporal  will  act  as  sergeant-instructor  for  his  own 
squad. 

It  is  contemplated  that  the  sergeants  and  corporals  have 
had  a  thorough  course  of  instruction  prior  to  their  men. 

3.  A  classroom  will  be  provided  with  a  blackboard,  seats 
for  entire  class  and  one  rifle  table  per  team,  sufficiently  large 
to  permit  entire  team  to  group  around  it  while  working  on 
the    rifle. 


SUBJECTS. 

4.  Mechanism  will  be  taught  by  subject  in  the  following 
order: 

(1)  Nomenclature,  stripping  and  assembling  of  rifle,  except 
trigger  mechanism. 

(2)  Nomenclature,    stripping    and    assembling    of    trigger 
mechanism. 

(3)  Nomenclature,  stripping  and  assembling  of  magazine. 

(4)  Spare  parts. 

(5)  Functioning  of  gun  proper   (include   magazine). 

(6)  Functioning  of  trigger  mechanism. 

(7)  Stoppages  and  immediate  action  in  classroom. 

(8)  Stoppages  and  immediate  action  on  range. 

(9)  Care  and  preservation. 

DETAILED  METHOD  OF  INSTRUCTION. 

5.  No  discussion  of  functioning  should  be  permitted  prior 
to  the  completion  of  stripping  and  assembling.     Nomencla- 
ture will  be   taught  during  the   instruction   in   stripping  and 
assembling  and  reviewed  throughout  remainder  of  course. 

In  each  subject  the  following  procedure  will  be  observed: 

Introduction. — The  instructor  will  preface  his  instruction 
with  a  brief,  general  lecture  leading  up  to  the  specific  sub- 
ject in  hand. 

Preparation. — Instructor  must  prepare,  ahead  of  time,  all 
parts,  etc.,  needed  for  day's  work. 

Explanation-demonstration. — The  instructor  will  make  a 
detailed  explanation  of  the  subject  to  be  taught,  illustrating 
or  demonstrating  his  explanation  as  he  goes  along.  This  ex- 
planation-demonstration will  be  made  to  the  class  as  a  whole 
instead  of  being  made  by  team  or  squad.  This  insures  uni- 
form instruction  for  the  entire  class  in  the  beginning  of  each 
subject. 

Imitation. — The  teams  will  repair  to  their  rifles  and  each 
man  in  turn  will  imitate  the  explanation-demonstration  of  the 
instructor. 

Introduction  will  be  omitted. — The  other  members  of  the 
team  will  stand  by  with  handbooks  and  notebooks  and  check 
up  any  errors  of  the  man  reciting.  The  sergeant-instructor 
will  supervise  this  work,  correct  errors,  assist  backward  men 

8 


and  give  detailed  instruction  in  general.  As  men  deem 
themselves  qualified  they  will  report  to  .their  sergeant-in- 
structor for  examination.  He  will  require  a  perfect  recita- 
tion before  reporting  a  man  as  qualified  to  the  senior  in- 
structor. 

Interrogation.— Men  will  be  quizzed  on  work  in  hand. 
Questions  will  be  framed  with  a  view  to  bringing  out  impor- 
tant points. 

6.  Care  must  be  taken  to  see  that  the  sergeant-instructor 
does  not  hinder  progress  by  trying  to  impress  the  men  with 
how  much  he  knows  instead  of  instructing  them.  Whenever 
a  sergeant-instructor  demonstrates  to  one  of  his  men  the 
proper  way  to  do  a  certain  thing,  he  will  always  require  the 
man  actually  to  imitate  him.  There  is  sometimes  a  tendency 
for  new  sergeants  to  be  continually  demonstrating,  thereby 
preventing  their  men  from  getting  a  chance  at  the  rifle  or  the 
work  in  hand.  This  will  be  avoided. 


REGULATIONS    CONCERNING    HANDLING    THE 
RIFLE. 

7.  The   following  regulations  are  prescribed  regarding  the 
handling  of  the  Browning  automatic  rifle: 

(1)  Force  will  not  be  used. 

(2)  This  piece  will  not  be  stripped  nor  assembled  against 
time. 

(3)  The  bore  and  working  parts  will  be  thoroughly  cleaned 
and  oiled  whenever  the  piece  is  assembled. 

(4)  The  piece  will  be  thoroughly  cleaned  and  oiled  at  least 
Once  a  week  in  camp  or  garrison  and  daily  in  the  field. 

(5)  The  magazine  will  receive  the  same  care  as  the  rifle. 
Every  effort  will  be  made  to  prevent  bending  or  denting  the 
magazines,  being  especially  careful  of  the  lips  and  magazine- 
catch-notch. 

(6)  The  filing  or  altering  of  shape  or  parts  will  not  be  per- 
mitted. 

8.  The  rifle  is  so  constructed  as  to  be  taken  apart  and  put 
together  easily.     Most  parts  are  designed  with  a  view  to  pre- 
vent wrong  assembling.     Where  difficulty  arises  in  stripping 
and  assembling  easily  it  is  due  to  error  on  the  part  of  the 

9 


student  and  the  use  of  force  will  only  result  in  damage  to  the 
rifle. 

The  practice  of  stripping  and  assembling  against  time 
serves  no  useful  purpose  and  results  in  burring  and  damaging 
parts.  Gradual  skill  develops  as  men  become  more  familiar 
with  the  gun  and  lost  motion  is  eliminated.  Men  should  be 
taught  in  stripping  to  lay  out  parts  in  obvious  sequence  of 
assembling  and  should  so  thoroughly  learn  the  gun  that  tak- 
ing it  apart  and  putting  it  together  is  a  matter  of  second 
nature. 

Lubrication  is  necessary  to  the  operation  of  the  rifle.  Dirt 
and  extraneous  matter  will  prevent  it  from  functioning  and 
do  it  damage.  Instruction  in  care  and  preservation  should 
be  so  thorough  that  cleaning  and  oiling  become  a  matter  of 
habit. 

Unless  strict  supervision  is  exercised,  inexperienced  men 
and  sometimes  experienced  men,  will  file  or  otherwise  alter 
parts  which  do  not  need  it.  This  results  in  damage  to  the 
rifle  and  usually  fails  to  remedy  trouble.  Filing  and  altering 
of  parts  is  sometimes  necessary,  but  should  never  be  done 
except  by  an  expert,  under  direction  of  an  officer  competent 
to  supervise  the  work. 

The  use  of  rifles  for  instruction  in  mechanism  is  hard  on 
them.  This  fact  should  be  borne  in  mind  and,  in  the  company, 
after  the  completion  of  the  first  course  in  mechanism,  only 
a  limited  number  of  rifles  should  be  so  used. 


10 


PART  TWO. 


SCHEDULE  OF  INSTRUCTION. 

MECHANISM. 
GENERAL  REMARKS. 

9.  Mechanism  will  be  taught  in  the  order  given  in  lessons 
below.       It  may  be  necessary  to  devote  several  periods  to  a 
particular  lesson.      This  will  depend  on  the  degree  of  intelli- 
gence of  the  class  and  the  length  of  the  period  allotted.     A 
ten-minute  intermission  at  the   end   of  each  hour  should  be 
given    if   periods    are    longer   than    two   hours.      Each    lesson 
will  be  mastered  by  the  majority  of  the  class  prior  to  pro- 
ceeding to  the  next.     When  subject  in  hand  allows,  the  pre- 
ceding lesson  should  be  reviewed  with  the  current  one.     For 
instance,  nomenclature  will  be  reviewed  indefinitely  by  requir- 
ing every  man  to  properly  name  each  part  he  uses  or  men- 
tions. 

10.  It  is  contemplated  that  "Ordnance  Pamphlet  No.  1934" 
(handbook  of   the    Browning   machine   rifle,   model   of    1918) 
be  used  in  conjuction  with  this  course.  The  notes  following 
various   lessons   are   intended   to   give   the   instructor   supple- 
mental information.     He  will  get  additional  data  from  inde- 
pendent   research.     His    instruction,    however,    must    not    be 
at   variance   with   "Ordnance    Pamphlet    No.    1934"    and   this 
handbook. 

11.  Men  will  be   encouraged  to  ask  questions.     They  will 
not  be  permitted,  however,  to  get  ahead  of  the  schedule. 

LESSON  I. 
NOMENCLATURE,    STRIPPING    AND    ASSEMBLING. 

12.  Introduction. — The  instructor  will  give  a  brief  talk,  in- 
troducing the  rifle,  wherein  he  will   cover  its  type,  caliber, 
characteristics  and  name  such  other  points  of  general  inter- 
est as  he   deems   advisable. 

13.  Explanation-demonstration. — The    instructor    will    go 
over  the  rifle,  pointing  out,   naming  and   describing  various 
parts  externally  visible. 

11 


yThis  he  will  follow  by  slowly  stripping  the  rifle,  exclusive 
of  trigger  mechanism,  holding  up,  naming  and  describing 
each  part  as  he  removes  it. 

He  will  call  attention  to  all  cams,  lugs,  slots,  profiles  and 
springs,  but  does  not  at  this  time  describe  their  function 
(bearing  in  mind  the  prohibition  against  discussing  the  func- 
tioning of  the  rifle  prior  to  the  completion  of  nomenclature, 
stripping  and  assembling).  The  instructor  will  assemble  the 
piece  acording  to  the  same  procedure. 

14.  After  this   explanation-demonstration,  the   teams  being 
assembled  at  their  rifles,  the  instructor  will  describe,  step  by 
step,  how  to  strip  and  assemble  the  rifle,  naming  and  describ- 
ing parts  as  before.       He  will  require  one  man  at  each  rifle 
to  imitate  him  as   he   finishes   describing  each   step,   the   re- 
maining members  of  the  team  observing.     Every  man  in  the 
class  will  repeat  names  as  called  out  by  instructor.     The  in- 
structor will  not  allow  any  man  to  get  ahead  of  his  explana- 
tion in  this  stripping  and  assembling.     Assistants  will  keep 
backward  men  up  with  the  explanation  (instructor  must  take 
care  not  to  proceed  too  rapidly). 

15.  Imitation. — When   this   step-by-step    explanation-imita- 
tion has  been  completed  once  the  remaining  members  of  the 
team  will  strip  and  assemble  the  piece,  naming  and  describ- 
ing each  part  as  it  is  removed  and  cleaning  and  oiling  during 
assembly.   The  other  members  of  the  team  will  stand  by  with 
handbooks    and    correct   errors    of  nomenclature.      Sergeant- 
instructors  will  supervise  and  assist  students  and  will  see  that 
mistakes  are  corrected  as  they  are  made.    They  will  examine 
men   whom   they   believe   to   be   qualified   and   report   to   the 
senior  instructor  those  who  make  a  perfect  recitation. 

16.  Interrogation. — The  instructor  will  quiz  class. 

NOTES  ON  LESSON  I. 
Name. 

17.  The     Browning    automatic     rifle,   model     of     1918    (air 
cooled),  commonly  referred  to  as  the  light  Browning. 

Type. 

18.  The  Browning  automatic  rifle  is  a  shoulder  weapon,  gas 
operated,  magazine  fed  and  air  cooled.     It  is  an  automatic 
rifle. 

12 


Ammunition. 

19.  It  is  chambered  for  caliber  .30,  U.  S.  ammunition,  model 
of  1906.     The  magazine  holds  20  rounds   (there  are  special 
magazines  which  hold  40  rounds). 

Cooling  System. 

20.  It  has  no  special  cooling  system  nor  device,  the  barrel 
merely  being  exposed  to  the  air  and  the  hand  of  the  firer  be- 
ing protected   on    the   under   side    of   the   barrel   by   a   large 
wooden   forearm.     Since  the  barrel  soon  becomes  very  hot, 
care  must  be  taken  to  avoid  touching  it  during  firing  or  for 
five  or  ten  minutes  thereafter. 

General  Data. 

21.  (1)  Weight  of  rifle,  15  pounds  8  ounces. 

(2)  Weight  of  magazine,  empty   (20  rounds),  7  ounces   (a 
total  of  15  pounds  15  ounces). 

(3)  Weight    of    magazine,    filled    (20    rounds),    1    pound    7 
ounces. 

(4)  Length  of  barrel,  24  inches. 

(5)  Sights,  graduated  up  to  1,600  yards. 

(6)  Caliber  bore,  0.30  inch. 

(7)  Gas  port  from  muzzle,  6  inches. 

(8)  Rate  of  fire,  500  shots  per  minute. 

(9)  Weight  of  bullet,  150  grains. 

(10)  Weight  of  powder,  47  grains. 

(11)  Weight  of  shell,  198.5  grains. 

(12)  Weight  of  cartridge  (total),  395.5  grains. 

(13)  Chamber  pressure,  47,000  to  50,000  pounds  per  square 
inch. 

(14)  Muzzle  velocity,  2,682  feet  per  second. 

(15)  Habitual  type  of  fire,  semi-automatic. 

NOTE. — This  rifle  has  been  fired,  while  marching,  148 
shots  per  minute,  semi-automatic,  at  the  infantry  school  of 
arms  and  110  shots  per  minute,  semi-automatic,  from  the 
shoulder,  prone.  The  rates  of  fire,  however,  which  appeared 
to  give  the  best  results  were  from  80  to  100  rounds  per  min- 
ute, semi-automatic  marching  fire  and  50  to  60  shots  per  min- 
ute, semi-automatic  aimed  fire. 

13 


Sequence  of  Stripping. 

22.  (1)   Cock  the  piece. 

(2)  Gas  cylinder  tube  retaining  pin. 

(3)  Gas  cylinder  tube  (let  down  the  mechanism  easily). 

(4)  Trigger  guard  retaining  pin. 

(5)  Trigger  guard. 

(6)  Recoil  spring  guide. 

(7)  Hammer    pin    to    right    into    hammer    pin    hole    in    re- 
ceiver. 

(8)  Operating  handle. 

(9)  Hammer  pin. 

(10)  Hammer. 

(11)  Slide. 

(12)  Bolt   guide   pushed   to   left. 

(13)  Remove  bolt,  bolt  lock  and  link. 

(14)  Firing  pin. 

(15)  Extractor. 

Notes   on   Stripping. 

23.  Lay  the  rifle  on  the  table,  barrel  down,  pointing  to  the 
left. 

The  piece  must  be  cocked  in  order  that  the  gas  cylinder 
tube  may  clear  the  gas  piston  and  the  gas  cylinder  bracket, 
female.  After  the  gas  cylinder  tube  has  been  removed  it  is 
necessary  to  release  the  tension  of  the  recoil  spring.  A  nat- 
ural tendency  of  the  beginner  is  to  snap  the  piece  or  to  re- 
move the  trigger  guard  before  letting  slide  forward.  This 
will  result  in  damage  and  a  special  point  must  be  made  of 
easing  the  slide  forward  immediately  after  removing  the  gas 
cylinder  tube. 

24.  In  stripping  and  assembling  mechanism  it  will  be  noted 
that,  unless  tension  in  springs  is   released,  the  work  will  be 
more  difficult,  therefore,  in   the  various   steps   of  the   opera- 
tions herein  described,  care  is  taken  to  avoid  working  against 
tension  of  springs. 

25.  The   recoil    spring   guide   may   be    removed   by   placing 
right  thumb  on  roughened  surface  of  its  head  and  turning  it 
until  the  ends  are  clear  of  its  retaining  shoulders  or  it  may 
be  removed  in  a  similar  manner  by  using  the  index  finger  of 
the  left  hand  and  the  middle  finger  of  the  right  hand.     This 
latter  method  is  better,  both  in  stripping  and  assembling,  for 
men  who  have  not  powerful  hands. 

14 


26.  Hammer  pin  holes  on  the  receiver  and  operating  han- 
dle may  be  easily  lined  up  by: 

(1)  Pulling  the  operating  handle  a  few  inches  to  the  rear  of 
the  raised  shoulders  on  the  operating  handle  ribs. 

(2)  Grasping  slide  with  the  left  hand  and  pushing  on  the 
rear  end  with  the  right  hand  until  the  plunger  pin  just  rides 
up  on  the  rear  end  of  the  flat  surface  of  the  raised  shoulders 
on  the  operating  handle  ribs. 

Another  method  is  to  pull  the  operating  handle  to  the 
rear,  as  described  above,  insert  the  point  of  the  recoil  spring 
guide  in  the  hole  on  the  operating  handle  with  the  right  hand, 
pressing  against  the  hammer  pin  and  pull  the  slide  forward 
with  the  left  hand.  The  recoil  spring  guide  will  push  ham- 
mer pin  through  its  hole  in  the  receiver  as  the  hammer  pin 
registers  with  latter.  Care  must  be  taken  that  all  forward 
movement  of  slide  comes  through  pulling  slide  with  the  left 
hand,  the  right  hand  being  used  only  to  press  the  hammer 
pin  out. 

27.  In  removing  the  slide  take   care  to  avoid  striking  gas 
piston  or  rings  against  gas  cylinder  tube  bracket  (female)  and 
also  to  see  that  the  link  is  swung  back  so  that  the  slide  will 
clear  it. 

28.  The  bolt  guide  must  be  forced  out  enough  to  allow  the 
bolt  and  bolt  lock  to  be  lifted  out  of  the  receiver.    If  the  bolt 
guide  spring  is  strong  the  rim  of  a  cartridge  may  be  inserted 
between  the  outside  of  the  receiver  and  the  exterior  portion 
of  the  bolt  guide,  thus  giving  a  lever  with  which  to  hold  the 
bolt  guide  out. 

To  Remove  Firing  Pin  Without  Stripping  Gun. 

29.  (1)   Remove  trigger  mechanism. 

(2)  Lock  slide  in  rear  position  with  extra  firing  pin,  head 
against    operating   handle,   point   in   hammer   pin    slot   in   re- 
ceiver. 

(3)  Lock  bolt  guide  out  with  rim  of  cartridge. 

(4)  Incline   barrel   up    at    angle    of   45    degrees,    magazine 
opening  down. 

(5)  Buckle  bolt  lock,  bolt  and  link  assembly  down,   firing- 
pin  will  drop  out. 

15 


Sequence  of  Assembling. 

30.  (1)   Extractor. 

(2)  Firing  pin. 

(3)  Bolt,  bolt  lock  and  link. 

(4)  Slide. 

(5)  Hammer. 

(6)  Hammer  pin   (far  enough  to  register  all  holes). 

(7)  Operating  handle. 

(8)  Hammer  pin,  fully  seated. 

(9)  Recoil  spring  and  guide. 

(10)  Trigger  guard. 

(11)  Trigger  guard  retaining  pin. 

(12)  Cock  the  piece. 

(13)  Gas  cylinder  tube. 

(14)  Gas  Cylinder  tube  retaining  pin. 

(15)  Ease  the  slide  forward. 

(16)  Oil  and  test  the  piece. 

Notes  oh  Assembling. 

31.  Before  inserting  slide,  see  that  link  is  thrown  clear  back 
so   that   slide  will   clear.     Slide   is   inserted   so   that  the   sear 
notch   is   visible   when   looking   into   the   receiver   from    the 
trigger  side. 

The  hammer  is  inserted  with  its  convex  surface  to  the 
rear  and  its  flat  surface  toward  the  trigger  mechanism  open- 
ing in  the  receiver. 

32.  To  insert  the  hammer  pin,  move  slide  forward  and  line 
up  hammer  pin  holes  in  link,  hammer,  slide  and  receiver,  by 
inserting  recoil  spring  guide  through  slot  in  side  of  receiver. 
The  hammer  pin  is  not  pushed  clear  through  until  the  operat- 
ing handle  has  been  moved  all  the  way  home. 

33.  Be   careful   to   put   the   operating   handle   on   with   the 
handle  end  forward.    If  it  is  assembled,  with  the  reverse  end 
forward,  an  expert  mechanic  will  be  required  to  remove  it. 
After  the  operating  handle  has  been  pushed  home  the  ham- 
mer pin  is  then  fully  seated  and  the  slide  pulled  forward. 

34.  In  assembling  the  trigger  guard  to  the  piece  see  that 
no  pins  are  projecting  from  its  sides.     Seat  slot,  in  its  rear 
end,  on  flange  in  rear  end  of  opening  in  receiver,  then  press 
back   and    down    on    forward    end    of    trigger    guard   until    it 
hinges  into  place.     See  that  holes  are  properly  registered  be- 
fore inserting  trigger  guard  retaining  pin. 

16 


35.  Cock  the  piece  by  pushing  the  gas  piston  to  the  rear. 
Take  care  to  register  gas  cylinder  tube  and  piston  on  assem- 
bling  same    and   avoid   burring   gas    cylinder   tube   brackets, 
male  and  female. 

LESSON  II. 
STRIPPING   AND    ASSEMBLING   BLINDFOLDED. 

36.  Teams  at  gun  tables. — Each  man  in  turn,  blindfolded, 
strips    and    assembles    the    gun.         The    sergeant-instructor 
watches  him  to  prevent  wrong  assembly  or  forcing  of  parts. 
He  may  be  given  assistance  in  event  he  cannot  proceed  other- 
wise.    If  he  calls  for  any  part,  by  its  right  name,  same  will 
be  handed  him. 

The  other  members  of  the  team  not  blindfolded  will  have 
various  parts  put  in  their  hands  while  same  are  behind  back 
and  will  name  parts  by  feel.  Extraneous  pieces  of  metal  may 
be  introduced  in  this  latter  exercise. 

The  purpose  of  this  instruction  is  to  so  train  the  soldier  as 
to  enable  him  to  replace  breakages  and  reduce  stoppages  in 
the  dark. 

LESSON  III. 

STRIPPING  AND  ASSEMBLING  TRIGGER 
MECHANISM. 

37.  Follow  procedure,  outlined  in  lesson  I,  instructing  in 
the  trigger  mechanism,  i.e.: 

(1)  Explanation  and  demonstration  by  instructor. 

(2)  Explanation,  step-by-step,  by  instructor  and  imitation, 
step-by-step,  by  one  student  in  each  team. 

(3)  Imitation   of   (1)    by   each   of  remaining  students,   stu- 
dent reciting  being  checked  as  described  in  lesson  I. 

(4)  Interrogation  by  instructor. 

NOTES  ON  TRIGGER  MECHANISM. 
Sequence  of  Stripping. 

38.  (Not  to  be  done  in  the  fi,eld  except  to  replace  break- 
ages). 

(1)  Sear  spring  (insert  handle  of  trigger  guard  retaining 
pin  under  sear  spring,  above  connector  stop,  pry  up,  press- 
ing against  sear  spring  with  thumb  and  pulling  to  the  rear). 

17 


(2)  Trigger  pin. 

(3)  Trigger  and  connector. 

(4)  Sear  pin    (release  the  pressure  on   sear  pin  by  stand- 
ing trigger  mechanism  vertically  on  flat  forward  end,  levering 
sear  carrier  forward  with  recoil  spring  guide  inserted  just  in 
rear  of  counter-recoil   spring.     Then   push   the  sear  pin  out 
with    the    point    of    a    cartridge).      Pressure    on    tail    of    sear 
causes  sear  pin  to  bind  between  sear  carrier  and  sear. 

(5)  Sear. 

(6)  Sear  carrier  and  counter-recoil  spring. 

NOTE. — Sear  carrier  must  be  pried  up  so  as  to  clear  change 
lever  spring. 

(7)  Change  lever  spring   (change  lever  spring  is   removed 
by  prying  bent  over  rear  end   out  of  its   seat  with  rounded 
end  of  sear  spring  and  moving  change  lever  from  front  to 
rear.     When  it  is  clear  of  the  change  lever  it  is  pushed  the 
rest  of  the  way  out  by  pressing  with  the  thumb  against  the 
sear  stop). 

(8)  Change  lever. 

(9)  Ejector   (depress  ejector  lock  with  point  of  cartridge, 
hold  thumb  in  front  of  magazine  catch  spring  to  prevent  its 
loss  and  slide  ejector  out). 

(10)  Magazine  catch  spring. 

(11)  Magazine  catch  pin. 

(12)  Magazine  catch. 

(13)  Magazine  release. 

Assembling  Trigger  Mechanism. 

39.  Sequence  of  assembling  is  in  reverse  order  of  stripping. 

Notes  on  Assembling  Trigger  Mechanism, 

40.  The  following  points  are  worthy  of  note:    It  is  easier 
to   seat  the  magazine   catch   spring  if   the   ejector   is   moved 
down  until  it  is  flush  with  the  magazine  catch  spring  before 
attempting  to  compress  the  latter. 

41.  In    assembling    change    lever    spring    first    insert    the 
ears   in   slots   in   trigger    guard   and   push    spring   forward   a 
slight  distance,  then  insert   the  rounded  end  of  sear   spring 
between  the  rear  end  of  the  trigger  guard  and  the  change 
lever  spring.      By  prying  up  with  the  sear  spring  and,  at  the 
same    time,    pressing    against    sear    stop    with    thumb    and 
ratcheting  change  lever  from  rear  to  front  the  change  lever 

18 


spring  is  easily  seated.  Sear  carrier  and  counter-recoil  spring 
are  assembled  to  trigger  mechanism  by  inserting  counter- 
recoil  spring  guide  in  its  seat,  then  using  the  recoil  spring 
guide  as  a  lever  in  sear  pin  hole,  prying  the  sear  carrier  for- 
ward until  its  rear  end  is  held  by  the  ears  on  the  change 
lever  spring.  The  sear  is  now  inserted  and  the  recoil  spring 
guide  forced  through  so  as  to  register  the  holes  in  the  sear, 
sear  carrier  and  trigger  guard  for  the  sear  pin,  which  is  forced 
in  by  pressing  it  against  a  block  of  wood,  thus-  forcing  the 
recoil  spring  guide  out. 

42.  In   assembling  the   connector  note   that   its   toe   points 
to  the  rear  and  that  its  head  is  in  rear  of  the  connector  stop 
(rear  is  the  direction  away  from  the  ejector  toward  the  sear). 

43.  Be  especially  careful  to  see  that  the  outside  prongs  of 
the  sear  spring  rest  on  their  seats  on  the  sear  and  that  the 
middle  prong  rides  freely  in  the  slot  formed  by  the  walls  of 
the  sear  carrier.     If  this  middle  prong  rests  on  one  of  these 
walls,    instead    of    riding    freely    between    them,    the    trigger 
mechanism  will  not  function  when  the  barrel  is  inclined  below 
the  horizontal. 

LESSON  IV. 
MAGAZINES. 

44.  Following  the  procedure  outlined  in  Lessons  I  and  III, 
the  instructor  will  teach  nomenclature,  stripping,  assembling 
and  loading  of  the  magazines. 

Notes  on  Magazines. 

45.  Loading  exercise  will  be  conducted  with  dummy  ammu- 
nition. 

46.  The  men  must  be  taught  that  the  magazines  require  the 
same  care   and   preservation  as   the   rifle.  They   must  not   be 
allowed  to  become  dirty.     Dented  magazines  will  cause  mal- 
functions.       The   greatest   possible   care   should  be   taken   to 
prevent  any  damage  whatever  being  done  to  the  lips  of  the 
magazine  or  to  the  notch  for  the  magazine  catch. 

Sequence  of  Stripping. 

(47)    (Not  to  be  done  in  the  field). 

(1)  Magazine  base   (raise  rear  end  of  magazine  base  until 
indentations  thereon  are  clear,  then  slide  to  the  rear). 

(2)  Magazine  spring. 

(3)  Magazine  follower. 

19 


48.  Assemble  in  reverse  order,  viz.:   Follower,  spring  and 
base.    Note  that  bent-over  end  of  follower  and  eye  of  spring 
work  against  inside  of  rear  (notched)  end  of  magazine. 

LESSON  V. 
SPARE  PARTS. 

49.  The  nomenclature  of  the  spare  parts  kit  will  be  taught 
according  to  the  principles  hereinbefore  enunciated.     This  in- 
struction will  include  the  proper  method  of  packing  the  spare 
parts  kit.     It  will  also  include  instruction  in  the  contents  of 
the  gun  box. 

Notes  on  Spare  Parts. 

50.  The  importance  of  knowing  what  is  and  what   is  not 
carried  as  a  spare  part  should  be  impressed  on  all  automatic 
riflemen. 

It  is  essential  to  know  where  to  find  any  spare  part  that 
may  be  required. 

All  spare  parts  must  be  given  their  proper  names,  the  use 
of  other  names  is  forbidden. 

A  list  of  deficiencies  should  be  kept  inside  each  gun  box. 

Spare  parts  must  be  kept  slightly  oiled. 

The  necessity  of  checking  spare  parts  whenever  oppor- 
tunity offers  must  be  emphasized. 

Breakages  and  losses  must  be  reported  immediately. 

Noncommissioned  instructors  will  check  their  own  spare 
parts  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  the  instruction  and  will 
render  a  report  showing  deficiencies. 

Worn  or  defective  parts  should  not  be  kept  in  the  spare 
parts  box. 

Where  any  rifles  are  kept  in  reserve  care  should  be  taken 
to  see  that  they  are  in  the  same  condition  of  readiness  for 
action  as  those  to  be  used  in  the  firing  line.  They  should  not 
be  utilized  as  a  source  for  obtaining  spare  parts. 

LESSON  VI. 
FUNCTIONING. 

51.  Introduction. — The  instructor  will  give  a  brief  lecture, 
explaining   the   difference   between   recoil   operated   and   gas 
operated  guns,  that  most  automatic  weapons  have  some  sort 
of    a    cooling    system    and    the    reasons    thereof    (it    will    be 
noted  that  there  is  no  special  device  for  cooling  the  Browning 

20 


automatic  rifle  but  that  the  barrel  is  exposed  as  much  as  pos- 
sible to  the  air).  He  will  further  explain  that  all  automatic 
weapons  must  have  mechanical  means  for  performing  the 
following  functions:  Extraction,  ejection,  feeding,  locking 
breech  while  there  is  high  pressure  in  the  bore  and  priming 
the  cartridge.  He  will  define  and  illustrate  any  mechanical 
terms  which  he  uses.  For  instance  "to  cam"  is  to  change  the 
direction  of  motion  of  a  part  by  means  of  a  cam.  Instructor 
may  illustrate  this  by  showing  how  the  bolt  supports  act  on 
the  bolt  lock  during  the  operation  of  locking. 

52.  The    operations    of    extraction,    ejection,    etc.,    are    per- 
formed by  various   cams,   lugs   and   springs   and   the   energy 
necessary  to  perform  this  work  and  overcome  friction  in  the 
rifle    is    derived    from    the    explosion    of    the    powder    in    the 
chamber. 

He  will  explain  that  these  operations  have  a  certain  se- 
quence in  the  various  guns  and  that  some  of  them  are  con- 
current, that  in  the  Browning  the  men  will  be  expected  to 
learn  and  understand  thoroughly  the  various  operations  sep- 
arately and  then  to  visualize  them  as  they  are  actually  hap- 
pening in  the  rifle  during  firing.  In  other  words,  that  the 
soldier  must  be  able  to  "see"  the  relative  position  of  all  the 
parts,  at  any  time,  of  the  operation  of  the  rifle. 

53.  Explanation-demonstration. — This     explanation-demon- 
stration will  be  illustrated  with  an  assembled  rifle,  parts  of 
rifles  and  drawings,  in  the  following  order: 

Operation  in  general  terms  (as  given  on  page  9,  Ordnance 
Pamphlet  No.  1934). 

Definition  of  the  two  phases  of  action  (as  given  below, 
paragraph  57). 

First  Phase. — 

(1)  Action  of  gas. 

(2)  Slide. 

(3)  Unlocking. 

(4)  Withdrawal  of  firing  pin. 

(5)  Extraction. 

(6)  Ejection. 

(7)  Termination  of  first  phase. 

Second  Phase. — 

(1)  Action  of  recoil  spring. 

(2)  Feeding. 


(3)  Locking. 

(4)  Priming. 

(5)  Termination  of  second  phase. 

Action  of  the  Buffer. 

54.  Imitation. — As  outlined  in  lessons  I  and  III. 

55.  Interrogation. — By  instructor. 

NOTES  ON  FUNCTIONING. 
General    Remarks. 

56.  It  is  not  desired  to  have  the  student  memorize  the  dis- 
tances  given   below.      He   must   have,   however,   an   approxi- 
mate idea  of  these  distances;  for  instance,  he  should  under- 
stand that  the  backward  travel  of  the  bolt  has  been  very  lit- 
tle when  the  bolt  lock  is  drawn  completely  down  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  that  the  slide  has  moved  a  considerable  distance. 

57.  The    functioning    of    the    Browning    automatic    rifle    is 
divided  into  two  phases,  based  on  the  natural  operation  of  the 
mechanism  when  a  shot  is  fired.     These  two  phases  are  the 
backward  and  the  forward  action.     In  making  this   division 
we  assume,  as  a  starting  or  reference  point,  the  priming  of  a 
cartridge  in  the  chamber. 

FIRST   PHASE. 
Action  of  Gas. 

58.  A  cartridge  having  been  primed,  the  bullet,  under  the 
pressure  of  the  expanding  powder  gases,  travels  through  the 
barrel  and  when  it  reaches  a  point  6  inches  from  the  muzzle 
it  passes  a  port  in  the  bottom  of  the  barrel.    The  barrel  pres- 
sure, which  at  this  instant  is  still  very  high,  seeks  this  first 
natural  vent.    Registered  with  the  barrel  port  are  other  similar 
ports  in  the  gas  cylinder  tube  bracket,  gas  cylinder  tube  and 
gas   cylinder.     The  port  in  the   gas   cylinder  is  the  smallest 
and  serves  to  throttle  the  barrel  pressure.     The  ports  in  the 
gas   cylinder  lead   radially  into   a  well  about  ,12  of  an   inch 
in  diameter  in  the  head  of  the  gas  cylinder.     The  throttled 
barrel   pressure   is    conducted   through   this   well   to   the    gas 
piston  plug.     This  pressure  acts  on  the  piston  a  very  short 
time,  namely,  the  time  it  takes  the  bullet  to  travel  the  6  inch 
distance  from  the  barrel  port  to  the  muzzle.    Its  effect  is  that 
of  a  sudden  severe  blow  on  the  piston  plug.     Under  the  in- 
fluence of  this  blow  the  gas  piston  is  driven  to  the  rear  and 


carries  with  it  the  slide  to  which  it  is  assembled.  When  the 
piston  has  travelled  about  .58  of  an  inch  backward  the  bear- 
ing rings  on  its  head,  also  the  gas  piston  plug,  pass  out  of 
the  cylinder.  The  gas  expands  around  the  piston  head  and 
into  the  gas  cylinder  tube  and  is  exhausted  through  six  port 
holes  in  the  tube  just  in  rear  of  the  gas  cylinder  tube  bracket. 
The  gas  is  prevented,  in  a  large  measure,  from  travelling  back 
through  the  gas  cylinder  tube  by  two  rings  on  the  piston,  .62 
of  an  inch  apart  and  1.25  inches  from  the  piston  head.  These 
rings  also  serve  as  bearings  to  hold  the  front  end  of  the  pis- 
ton in  the  center  of  the  gas  cylinder  tube  after  the  piston 
head  has  passed  out  of  the  gas  cylinder. 

The   Slide. 

59.  Having  traced  out  the  action  of  the  gas  we  will  now  go 
back  and  take  up  the  action  of  the  mechanism  as  it  moves  to 
the   rear.     The   first  and   immediate  result   of  the  backward 
movement  of  the  slide  is  the  beginning  of  the  compression 
of  the  recoil  spring,  thereby  storing  energy  for  the  forward 
motion. 

Unlocking. 

60.  The  hammer  pin  is  slightly  in  advance  of  the  link  pin, 
about  .19  of  an  inch.    The  center  rib  of  the  hammer  is  against 
the  head  of  the  firing  pin.    When  the  slide  begins  its  motion 
to  the  rear  it  imparts  no  motion  whatever  to  the  bolt  and 
bolt  lock.     The  slide  moves  back  .19  of  an  inch  and  its  only 
effect   during  this   travel   is   to   carry   the   hammer  from   the 
firing  pin  and  the  hammer  pin   directly  under  the  link  pin. 
At  this  point  the  unlocking  begins,  the  link  revolves  forward 
about  the  hammer  pin  drawing  the  bolt  lock  down  and  to  the 
rear.      The  motion  of  the  lock  and  bolt,  which  is  zero  at  the 
instant  the  hammer  pin  passes  under  the  link  pin,  accelerates 
from  this  point  until  the  slide  has  travelled   1.19  inches,  at 
which  point  the  lock  is  drawn  completely  down  out  of  the 
locking  recess  and  away  from  the   locking  shoulder  of  the 
receiver.        It  is   now  supported   in   front   on   the   bolt   sup- 
ports -and  the  front  upper  shoulder  of  the  link  has  revolved 
forward  and  is  against  the  locking  shoulder  of  the  bolt  lock. 
These  two  influences  prevent  the  bolt  lock  revolving  down 
below  the  line  of  backward  travel  of  the  bolt. 

23 


Withdrawal  of  Firing  Pin. 

61.  As  the  bolt  lock  revolves  down  from  its  locked  position 
a  cam  surface  in  a  slot  in  the  rear  bottom  side  of  the  bolt 
lock  comes  in  contact  with  a  similar  cam  surface  on  the  firing 
pin  lug  and  cams  the  firing  pin  from  the  primer. 

Extraction. 

62.  The  backward  motion  of  the  bolt  begins  when  the  bolt 
lock  has  been  drawn  down  so  that  the  circular  cam  surface 
on  its  under  side  is  operating  on  the  rear  shoulders  of  the 
bolt   supports.     This   produces   a   strong   lever   action   which 
slowly  loosens   the   cartridge   case   if   stuck  in  the   chamber. 
The  backward  travel  of  the  bolt  has  been  slight,  only  .17  of 
an  inch  when  the  firing  pin  is  withdrawn,  its  travel  is  .35  of 
an  inch  when  the  bolt  lock  is  drawn  completely  down.     From 
this  point  the  bolt  moves  to  the  rear,  drawn  by  the  bolt  lock 
and  link,  with  the  same  speed  as  the  slide  and  carries  with  it 
the  empty  cartridge  case,  which  is  held  firmly  in  its  seat  on 
the  face  of  the  bolt  by  the  extractor.     The   extractor  is  on 
the   upper    righthand   side   of   the   bolt   next    to   the    ejection 
opening  in  the   receiver.     A  slot  cut  in  the  left  side  of  the 
bolt  lock  near  the  back  end  passes  over  the  bolt  guide,  which 
supports  the  bolt  lock  and  bolt  when  they  are  in  the  cocked 
position. 

Ejection. 

63.  When  the  slide  reaches  a  point    .22  of  an  inch  from  the 
end  of  its  travel,  the  base  of  the  cartridge   case  strikes  the 
ejector,  which  is  on  the  left  side  of  the  feed  rib  of  the  bolt 
and  opposite  the  extractor.     This  action  causes  the  cartridge 
case    to   be   pivoted   with    considerable    force    about    the    ex- 
tractor as  a  pivot  and  through   the  ejection  opening,  in   the 
receiver.     The   front    end   of   the   cartridge   case    passes    first 
out  of  the  receiver  and  is  pivoted  backward  so  that  it  strikes 
the  receiver  at  a  point  about  1   inch  in  rear  of  the  ejection 
opening.     It   rebounds   from   the   receiver   toward   the    right 
front. 

Termination  of  First  Phase. 

64.  The  backward   motion   is   terminated  by  the  rear   end 
of  slide   striking  the  buffer  at  the  back  end  of  the  receiver. 
The   slide   moves   forward   .10  of  an   inch,   after  striking  the 

24 


buffer,  under  the  action  of  the  recoil  spring,  but  if  the  sear 
nose  is  not  depressed  it  engages  the  sear  notch  on  the  slide 
and  the  piece  is  cocked  for  the  next  shot. 

NOTE. —  It  was  seen  that  the  motion  of  the  bolt  and  lock 
and  link  mechanism  began  slowly  at  first  and  did  not  attain 
the  speed  of  the  slide  until  the  slide  had  travelled  1.2  inches 
backward.  This  is  a  very  important  and  good  characteristic 
of  the  rifle  because  it  relieves  the  mechanism  of  th*e  excess 
strain  which  it  would  have  if  those  parts  were  started  sud- 
denly at  the  instant  the  gas  impinges  on  the  piston.  Another 
very  important  result  of  this  characteristic  of  the  design  is 
the  delaying  of  the  opening  of  the  chamber  an  instant  of  time 
to  allow  the  high  barrel  pressure  to  decrease. 

SECOND   PHASE. 
Action  of  Recoil  Spring. 

65.  The  sear  nose  is  depressed,  disengaging  the  sear  and 
the  slide  moves  forward  under  the  action  of  the  recoil  spring. 
The  link  pin  is  slightly  below  a  line  joining  the  bolt  lock  pin 
and  the   hammer  pin,  therefore,  as  the  slide   starts  forward, 
the  joint  at  the  link  pin  has  a  tendency  to  buckle  downward. 
It  is  prevented  from  doing  this  by  the  tail  of  the  feed  rib  of 
the  bolt,  which  extends  backward  under  the  bolt  lock,  also 
principally  by  the  upper  front  shoulder  of  the  link  being  in 
contact  with  the  locking  surface  of  the  bolt  lock.     Since  the 
joint   cannot   buckle,    the    entire    mechanism   moves    forward 
with  the  "slide.    When  it  has  travelled  .27  of  an  inch  the  front 
end  of  the   feed  rib   impinges   on   the   base   of  the   cartridge 
which   the   magazine   spring  and   lips   are   holding  up   in   its 
path. 

Feeding. 

66.  The  cartridge  is  carried  forward  about  .27  of  an  inch, 
when  the  nose  of  the  bullet  strikes  the  bullet  ramp  or  guide 
on  the  breech  of  barrel  and  is  deflected  upward  towards  the 
chamber.     This  action  also  guides  the  front  end  of  the  car- 
tridge from  under  the  magazine  lips.     The  base  of  the  car- 
tridge approaches  the  center  of  the  magazine,  where  the  lips 
are  cut  away  and  the  opening  enlarged,  and  at  this  point  is 
forced   out   of  the   magazine   by   the   magazine   spring.     The 
base  of  the  cartridge  slides  across  the  face  of  the  bolt  and 
under    the    extractor.    .  Should    the    cartridge    fail    to    slide 

25 


under  the  extractor  the  extractor  will  snap  over  its  head 
when  the  bolt  is  in  the  forward  position.  When  the 
cartridge  is  released  by  the  magazine  the  nose  of  the  bullet 
is  so  far  in  the  chamber  that  it  is  guided  by  the  chamber 
•from  this  point  on. 

Locking. 

• 

67.  When  the  slide  is  1.19  inches  from  its  forward  position 
the  circular  cam  surface  on  the  under  side  of  the  bolt  lock 
begins  to  ride  over  the  rear  shoulders  of  the  bolt  supports 
and  the  rear  end  of  the  bolt  lock  is  cammed  upward.     The 
link  pin  passes  up  above  a  line  joining  the  bolt  lock  pin  and 
hammer  pin.     fne  joint  at  the  link  pin  now  has  a  tendency 
to  buckle  upward  and  the  bolt  lock,  being  opposite  the  lock- 
ing recess  in  the  receiver,  is  free  to  and  does,  pivot  upward 
about  the  bolt  lock  pin.    The  link  revolves  upward  about  the 
hammer  pin,  forcing  the  bolt  lock  up  and  a  rounded  surface 
on  the  bolt  lock,  just  above  the  locking  face,  slides  over  the 
locking    shoulder    in    the    receiver,    giving    the    lock    a    lever 
action  which  forces  the  bolt  home  to  its  final  position.     The 
two  locking  surfaces  on  the  bolt  lock  and  the  receiver  regis- 
ter as  the  hammer  pin  passes  under  the  link  pin. 

Priming  the  Cartridge. 

68.  The  lug  on  the  firing  pin  is  buried  in  the  slot  in  rear 
of  the  bolt  lock  at  all   times   except  when  the  bolt  lock  is 
against   the   locking  shoulder   of  the   receiver,   therefore   the 
firing   pin   is    locked    away    from    the    primer    during   all    the 
backward  and  forward  motion  of  the  bolt.     When  the  ham- 
mer pin  passes  under  the  link  pin  the  firing  pin  has  just  been 
released  by  the  bolt  lock.     The  slide  and  hammer  move  for- 
ward about  .11  of  an  inch  further  and  the  center  rib  of  the 
hammer  strikes  the  head  of  the  firing  pin,  driving  it  forward 
and  priming  the  cartridge. 

Termination  of  Second  Phase. 

69.  The   front   end   of  the   slide   strikes   a  shoulder  at  the 
rear  end  of  the  gas  cylinder  tube,  which  terminates  the  for- 
ward   motion.      The    forward    motion    is    not    terminated    by 
the  hammer  on  the  firing  pin.     This  can  be  seen  by  exam- 
ining the  head  of  the  firing  pin  when  the  gas  cylinder  tube  is 
assembled  to  the  receiver  and  the  bolt  mechanism  is  in  the 

26 


forward  position.     The   firing  pin   has   still  about   .06  of  an 
inch  clearance  from  its  extreme  forward  position. 

NOTE. — The  locking  shoulder  of  the  receiver  is  inclined 
forward.  Its  surface  is  normal  or  perpendicular  to  a  line 
joining  it  and  the  bolt  lock  pin,  therefore  the  shock  of  the 
explosion  of  the  cartridge  is  squarely  against  it.  Attention 
is  also  called  to  the  fact  that  the  speed  of  the  bolt  mechan- 
ism is  slowed  down  gradually  from  the  instant  the  joint  at 
the  link  pin  is  broken  upward,  until  the  hammer  pin  passes 
under  the  link  pin,  when  its  speed  is  zero. 

Action  of  the  Buffer. 

70.  The  buffer  system  consists  of  a  tube  in  which  are  placed 
successively,  from  front  to  rear,  the  buffer  head,  a  brass  fric- 
tion cup  with  concave  interior  and  split  to  allow  it  to  spring. 
A  steel  cone  to  fit  into  the  cup;  four  of  these  cups  and  cones 
are  placed  one  after  the  other  or  in  series.     Next  is  the  buf- 
fer spring  and  finally  the  buffer  nut,  which  is   screwed  into 
the  end  of  the  tube  and  forms  a  seat  for  the  spring. 

The  Action. 

71.  The  buffer  head  is  struck  by  the  rear  end  of  the  slide, 
this  forces  the  cups  over  the  cones  and  causes  them  to  ex- 
pand tightly  against  the  tube  and  consequently  produces  con- 
siderable friction  as  the  cups  move  back  and  compress  the 
buffer    spring.      Thus    the    rearward    motion    of   the    slide    is 
eased  up  gradually  and  there  is  practically  no  rebound.     The 
spring  causes  the  buffer  head  and  friction  cups  and  cones  to 
return  to  their  original  positions. 

LESSON  VII. 
FUNCTIONING  OF  TRIGGER  MECHANISM. 

72.  Preparation. — Instructor  and  each  team  have  a  stripped 
trigger  mechanism  before  them. 

73.  Explanation-demonstration. — Instructor  describes  parts 
and   explains   functioning  in   detail   according   to   method   in 
notes  below. 

74.  Imitation. — Students   describe   parts   and   explain   func- 
tioning as  outlined  in  lesson  I. 

75.  Interrogation. — Instructor  quizzes  students. 

27 


Notes  on  Trigger  Mechanism. 

76.  The  trigger  mechanism  has  three  settings: 

(1)  Automatic    (A).     When    so    set    the    sear   is    held    de- 
pressed as  long  as  the  trigger  is  pulled  and  the  piece  will 
continue   firing  until  the  magazine  is   emptied. 

(2)  Semi-automatic    (F).      When    so    set    the    sear   is    de- 
pressed, thereby  disengaging  the  sear  and  sear  notch  when 
the  trigger  is  pulled,   but  the   mechanism  is   so   constructed 
that  the  sear  rises  and  engages  in  the  sear  notch  when  the 
slide  comes  back  again  and  the  sear  and  sear  notch  will  not 
disengage  until  the  trigger  is  fully  released  and  then  pulled. 
With  this  setting  the  piece  fires  one  shot,  ejects  the  empty 
cartridge  and  cocks  itself  for  each  pull  and  release  of  the 
trigger. 

(3)  Safe    (S).     When  so  set  the  sear  cannot  be  released 
from  the  sear  notch  by  pulling  the  trigger. 

77.  The   action   of   the   trigger   mechanism   is   taken   up   in 
phases   and   should   be   followed   through   on  the   mechanism 
itself  as  the   explanation  proceeds.     Have  the  trigger  guard 
stripped   completely.     Study   the   shape   of  the   change   lever 
and  note  the  following: 

(1)  It  is  a  bar  about  .25  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 

(2)  It  has  3  shallow  longitudinal   slots  cut  on  top  of  the 
bar,  as  the  handle  is  held  vertically. 

(3)  The  side  of  the  bar  is  slotted  in  such  a  way  as  to  leave 
a  little  tongue  of  metal  in  the  center  and  at  the  lower  edge 
of  the  slot. 

78.  To  assemble  the  change  lever  and  spring  to  the  trigger 
guard. — Note    that    the    toe    of   the    change    lever    spring    is 
seated  in  one  of  the  longitudinal  slots  on  the  change  lever 
and  that  as  the  lever  is  turned  from  one  position  to  another 
it  seats  in  the  other  slots.     The  only  function  of  the  spring 
and  the  longitudinal  slots  is  to  hold  the  change  lever  in  the 
position  in  which  it  is  placed. 

79.  To  assemble  the  trigger  and  pin  to  the  guard. — Turn 
the  change  lever  to  rear  or  safe  position.     Note  that  in  this 
position  the  slot  is  turned  slightly  upward  and  that  the  full 
surface  of  the  bar  is  on  the  bottom.     Pull  the  trigger.     Note 
that  the  rear  top  end  of  the  trigger  is  slotted  longitudinally 
and  that  the  metal  on  each  side  of  the  slot  forms  two  shoul- 
ders that  come  up  against  the  bottom  of  the  change  lever  bar. 

28 


80.  Push   the   change   lever   over  to   the   vertical   position, 
which  is  the  automatic  setting.     Pull  the  trigger  just  as  be- 
fore and  note  that  the  slot  in  the  change  lever  is  turned  to 
the  front  and  that  the  two  shoulders  of  the  trigger,  which  be- 
fore engaged  the  full  surface  of  the  change  lever  bar,  now 
are  free  to  pass  up  into  the  slot  of  the  change  lever,  also 
that  the  little  tongue  of  metal  on  the  bottom  of  the  change 
lever  slot  passes  through  the  longitudinal  slot  in  the  end  of 
the  trigger. 

81.  Push  change  lever  forward  or  to  single-shot  position. 
Note   that   now   the   slot   is   turned  partially   down   and   that 
when  the  trigger  is  pulled  the  front  end  of  the  trigger  passes 
up  into  the  change  lever  slot,  also  that  the  little  tongue  of 
metal  in  the  bottom  of  the  change  lever  slot  is  now  turned 
back  and  does  not  pass  through  the  slot  in  the  end  of  the 
trigger  as  it  did  in  the  automatic  position. 

82.  Observe  the  shape  of  the  connector.     Its  lower  end  is 
shaped  like  a  boot  with  a  toe  and  heel.       It  has  a  flat  sur- 
face that  slopes  down  and  toward  the   front   from  the  head 
(sear  spring  ramp).      In  rear  of  the  head  the  profile  extends 
straight    downward    for    about    .12   of    an    inch,    then    slopes 
slightly  to  the  rear  for  .12  of  an  inch   (sear   carrier   ramp). 
This  last  slope  is  used  in  a  cam  action  to  be  explained  later. 
Note  the  narrow  flat  top  surface  of  connector.     Its  function 
is  to  raise  forward  end  of  sear  until  cammed  out  from  under 
latter. 

83.  Place  the  connector  on  the  connector  pin  and  change 
lever  on  the  safe  position,  pull  the  trigger  and  note  that  the 
connector  is  not  raised  for  the  obvious   reason  that  trigger 
itself  cannot  be  raised  because  the  change  lever  bar  is  in  its 
way.        Turn    change    lever    to    automatic    position,    pull    the 
trigger  and  note  that  the  head  of  the  connector  is  raised  and 
held   in   a   vertical   position    and    cannot   be   tipped    forward. 
The  tongue  on  the  change  lever  engages  the  toe  of  the  con- 
nector as  the  trigger  is  pulled  and  holds  the  connector  up- 
right. 

84.  Turn  the  change  lever  to  single  shot  position,  pull  the 
trigger  and  note  that  the  tongue  on  the  change  lever  does 
not  now  engage  the  toe  of  the  connector  and  that  the  head 
of  the  connector  can  now  be  tipped  forward. 

85.  Observe  now  the  cross  pin  on  the  sear  carrier,  called 
the  connector  stop,  also  that  just  in  rear  of  the  connector 

29 


stop  and  on  the  under  side  of  the  sear  carrier  is  an  inclined 
surface  sloping  upward  in  the  metal  which  joins  the  two  sides 
of  the  sear  carrier.  This  surface  has  a  cam  action  with  the 
above  mentioned  cam  surface  on  the  connector. 

86.  Completely  assemble  the  trigger  mechanism.     Note  that 
the  center  leaf  of  the  sear  spring  presses  on  the  front  slop- 
ing surface  of  the  connector  and  tends  to  press  the  head  of 
the  connector  backward.     Put  change  lever  on  safe  and  pull 
trigger.     Note  the  head  of  connector  is  not  raised  above  the 
sear    carrier    for    reasons    given    previously.      Therefore,    the 
sear    nose    is    not    depressed    and    hence    the    safe    position. 
Change  over  to  the  automatic  position  and  pull  the  trigger, 
the  head  of  the  connector  is  raised  and  held  in  the  vertical 
position,  thus  depressing  the  sear  nose  and  holding  it  in  this 
position,    which    obviously   gives   automatic   fire   as    long  as 
there  are  cartridges  in  the  magazine. 

87.  The   tongue  on  change  lever  tends  to  hold  connector 
vertically  and  the  ramp  on   sear  carrier  tends  to  cam  con- 
nector forward.     The  forces  on  connector  exerted  by  these 
two   parts  are  opposed,  hence   trigger  mechanism  is   locked 
when  trigger  has  been  pulled  enough  to  release  slide. 

88.  Put   change   lever  on   single   shot   setting,  pull   trigger 
slowly.     Note  that  at  first  the  head  of  the  connector  rises  and 
thereby  depresses  the  sear  nose  which  allows  the  slide  to  go 
forward    and    fire    a    shot.      Continuing   the    squeeze    of    the 
trigger,  the  previously  mentioned  cam  surface  on  the  con- 
nector comes   in  contact  with  the  cam  surface  of  the  sear 
carrier   and   the   head   of   the   connector   is  cammed   forward 
against   the   pressure   of  the   center   leaf  of  the   sear   spring. 
The  connector  disengages  the  front  arm  of  the  sear  and  the 
two    outside   leaves   of   the    sear   spring   depress    it   and   the 
sear  nose  is  thereby  raised  up  in  the  path  of  the  slide  and 
engages   the    sear   notch   when   the    slide    moves    back,   thus 
allowing  only  one  shot  to  be  fired.    When  the  trigger  squeeze 
is   released   the   center   leaf  of  the   sear  spring  presses   the 
head    of   the    connector    downward    and    forward    under    the 
front   arm   of   the    sear   so    that   when   the    trigger   is    pulled 
again  the  action  is  repeated  and  single  shot  is  fired. 

89.  In  the  semi-automatic  position  the  connector  stop  pre- 
vents the  head  of  the  connector  being  tipped  so  far  forward 
that  the  sear  spring  cannot  push  it  back  in  place  when  the 
trigger  is  released.     The  only  function  of  the  change  lever 

30 


in  the  semi-automatic  position  is  the  limiting  of  the  upward 
travel  of  the  trigger  when  its  upper  rear  shoulders  strike  the 
top  of  the  slot  in  the  change  lever,  which  in  this  position  is 
turned  down. 

LESSON   VIII. 
IMMEDIATE  ACTION. 
(Classroom  Instruction). 

90.  Introduction. — The    instructor    will    give    definition    of 
immediate  action   (the  automatic  and  instinctive  application 
of  a  probable  remedy  for  a  stoppage,  based  on  the  position 
of  the  hammer  pin,  as  determined  by  pulling  back  operating 
handle). 

91.  Demonstration-explanation. — The    instructor   will   dem- 
onstrate the   four  positions   of  the  hammer  pin  and  how  to 
determine  its  position  by  pulling  back  the  operating  handle 
until  it  strikes  the  hammer  pin. 

92.  Each  member  of  team  is  required  to  learn  how  to  de- 
termine the  position  of  the  hammer  pin  by  setting  the  slide 
in  the  four  positions  (recoil  spring  removed  and  piston  held) 
and  then  by  placing  thumb  in  rear  of  trigger  guard  and  fin- 
gers on  operating  handle,  squeezing  operating  handle  back 
until  it   strikes  the  hammer  pin.     Students   will   then  be  re- 
quired to  state  in  which  position  mechanism  was  stopped. 

Part  Two. 

93.  (1)  Under   direction    of   instructor,    sergeant-instructor 
prepares  the  various  stoppages  for  the  first  position  of  ham- 
mer pin. 

(2)  Explains  the  immediate  action. 

(3)  Requires  each  member  of  team  to  perform  immediate 
action,  criticizing  performance. 

(4)  Quizzes  team. 

Each  phase  of  the  first  position  is  taught  until  all  are  pro- 
ficient before  teaching  next  phase. 


31 


LOCATION  OF  OPERATING  HANDLE  IN  FIRST,  SECOND, 
THIRD   AND   FOURTH   POSITION   STOPPAGES. 


PLATE  I. 

NOTE. —  The  operating  handle  is  shown  in  the  rearmost 
phase  in  each  position.  In  the  first  position  the  movement 
of  the  operating  handle  is  zero.  Stoppages  for  the  various 
positions  may  allow  the  operating  handle  to  strike  the  ham- 
mer pin  anywhere  within  limits  shown  by  brackets  and  ver- 
tical lines  above. 

32 


IMMEDIATE  ACTION  TABLE. 
Explanatory  Notes. 

94.  The  following  table  will  be  utilized  in  teaching  imme- 
diate action,  both  in  classroom  and  on  the  range.     In  class 
work  stoppages  will  be  set  up,  not  in  the  student's  sight  and 
when  he  inspects  the  gun  he  will  find  the  hammer  pin  and 
the  rifle  in  such  condition  as  would  result  if  that  stoppage 
occurred  during  actual  firing.     On  the  range  these  stoppages 
will  be  induced  so  as  to  occur  during  firing. 

95.  Column  1  describes  the  four  positions  of  the  operating 
handle   (when  drawn  back  until  it  strikes   the   hammer  pin 
•where  same  is  fixed  by  stoppage).     Plates  show  rearward  po- 
sition  of   operating   handle    for    each    of   the   four    positions. 
These  positions,  which  afford  a  ready  indication  of  the  cor- 
rect immediate  action  to  be  performed,  must  be  recognized 
clearly    before    instruction    proceeds.      When    this    has    been 
accomplished  the  soldier  will  be  required  to  learn  what  these 
four  positions  indicate. 

96.  Column  2  gives  a  detailed  description  of  the  immediate 
action  to  be  performed  by  the  firer  as  soon  as  he  has  de- 
termined the  position  of  the  hammer  pin  by  drawing  back 
the  operating  handle  until  it  strikes  the  hammer  pin.     It  will 
be  noted  that  in  all  four  of  the  positions  the  first  stage  of 
the  immediate  action  is   to  pull  back  the   operating  handle 
and  examine  what  conies  out  of  the  chamber. 

97.  Column  3  deals  with  the  probable  causes  of  these  stop- 
pages.    It   is   of  the  utmost  importance   that   the   instructor 
does  not  proceed  to  this  stage  until  he  is  assured  that  every 
immediate  action  can  be  correctly  and  immediately  performed 
without  the  slightest  hesitation. 

98.  A  thorough  knowledge  of  the  causes  of  temporary  stop- 
pages will  not  only  afford  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  work- 
ing of  the  rifle,  but  will  also  be  an  aid  in  the  discovery  of 
the  cause  of  any  unusual  break-down  which  may  occur. 

99.  It  is   not  wholly  necessary  to  teach  the  gunners   and 
carriers    the    method    of    "setting-up"    stoppages    but    all    in- 
structors and  assistant  instructors  should  thoroughly  under- 
stand this  phase. 


33 


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38 


NOTES  ON  IMMEDIATE  ACTION. 

100.  Stoppages  in  the  automatic  action  of  the  rifle  during 
firing  may  be  classed  under  two  main  headings: 

(1)  Temporary,  which  are  due  to: 

(a)  Failure  of  some  part  of  rifle  of  which  a  duplicate  is 
carried. 

(b)  Faulty  ammunition. 

(c)  Neglect  of  points  before  or  during  firing. 

(d)  Ignorance  on  part  of  rifle  team. 

(2)  Prolonged,  which  are  due  to  failure  of  some  part  that 
cannot,   as   a  rule,  be   remedied  by  the   team  under   fire   or 
without   skilled   assistance.     These   necessarily  put   the   gun 
Out  of  action  for  a  more  or  less  prolonged  period. 

Upon  the  knowledge  and  training  of  the  automatic  riflemen 
depends  the  rapidity  with  which  temporary  stoppages  can  be 
remedied. 

It  is  essential  that  stoppages  be  prepared  accurately. 


LESSON  IX. 

.      IMMEDIATE  ACTION. 
(On  Range). 

101.  Stoppages   will    be    set   up    on    range,   using   prepared 
magazines,  ammunition  and  parts  so  as  to  cause  them  to  occur 
during  firing. 

Student  will  fire.  When  stoppage  occurs  he  will  call  first 
position,  third  position  or  whatever  position  he  thinks  it  may 
be.  If  he  calls  the  correct  position  the  sergeant-instructor 
will  command  immediate  action,  whereupon  the  student  exe- 
cutes the  necessary  immediate  action. 

102.  When  the  student  has  been  thoroughly  grounded  in 
immediate  action  the  various   stoppages  will  be  set  up  and 
he  will  be  required  to  perform  the  necessary  immediate  action 
in  each   case  without  naming  it  and   without   command,  as 
soon  as  the  stoppage  occurs.    This  in  order  to  acquire  speed 
and  accuracy. 

39 


NOTES  ON  STOPPAGES. 
Causes. 

103.  Stoppages  are  caused  by  the  following: 

(1)  Dire    (natural    fouling   incident    to    firing   and   also   to 
careless  cleaning). 

(2)  Insufficient  oil  (from  failure  to  oil  and  because  of  oil 
burning  up  during  firing). 

(3)  Extraneous  matter  in  working  parts  (due  to  poor  clean- 
ing,   brass    chipped    off    from    cartridges,    breakages,    blown 
primers,  etc.). 

(4)  Improper  assembly  of  rifle   (gas  ports  not  registered, 
middle  prong  of  sear  spring  riding  on  one  wall  of  sear  car- 
rier, etc.). 

(5)  Breakages  (due  to  wrong  assembly,  oversize  or  under- 
size    parts,   burrs,    incorrect    heat    treatment,    overheating   of 
parts  incident  to  firing,  etc.). 

(6)  Burred  parts  (due  to  use  of  force,  grit,  etc.,  improper 
assembly,  extraneous  matter  in  mechanism). 

(7)  Magazine  troubles  (due  to  bent  or  dented  magazines, 
worn    magazine    catch    notch,    extraneous    matter    as    blown 
primer  between  lips  of  magazine  and  top  cartridge). 

(8)  Faulty    ammunition    (dented     cartridges,     failure     of 
primer  or  charge,  etc.). 

(9)  Excessive  play  in  parts  (due  to  wear,  to  stripping  parts 
not   supposed   to   be   stripped,    as    removing   barrel   from    re- 
ceiver, for  instance). 

10.  Ruptured  cartridges  (due  to  excessive  head  space). 
Headspace  is  the  distance  between  the  face  of  the  bolt  and 
the  head  of  a  standard  steel  test  cartridge.  If  this  distance 
is  excessive,  then  when  the  cartridge  case  is  forced  against 
the  walls  of  the  chamber  by  the  high  pressure,  incident  to 
explosion  of  charge,  the  head  of  the  cartridge  is  driven  to 
the  rear  since  it  is  not  properly  supported  by  Jhe  bolt.  This 
results  in  rupture  about  ^  inch  from  the  base  of  the  cart- 
ridge. In  effect  the  action  is  the  same  as  if  the  chamber 
gripped  the  cartridge  case  and  the  head  of  the  cartridge  for 
about  Y-2  inch  were  free  to  move;  since  the  chamber  pressure 
is  50,000  pounds  per  square  inch,  it  can  be  seen  why  the  case 
is  ruptured.  If  the  chamber  is  dirty  and  there  is  any  ex- 
cessive headspace,  ruptured  cartridges  are  sure  because  the 
case  is  "gripped"  with  more  friction.  By  cleaning  the  cham- 

40 


her  thoroughly  and  oiling  the  cartridges  this  stoppage  will 
be  corrected  until  the  headspace  becomes  very  excessive  (the 
case  is  never  pulled  apart  by  extractor). 

Analysis  of  Various  Stoppages  (As  To  Cause). 
First  Position. 

104.  Failure  to  feed. — Obstruction  (usually  a  blown  primer), 
between   lips  of  magazine  and  top   cartridge,   causes   failure 
of  presentation  of  a  cartridge  to  feed  rib  and  the  bolt  goes 
home  on  an  empty  chamber.     Same  result  occurs  when  the 
magazine    catch   notch   becomes   so   worn   as    to   permit   the 
magazine   to   drop   down   slightly   and   also   when   magazine 
catch  breaks. 

105.  Misfire. — Faulty  primer  or  charge  will  cause  a  misfire 
as  will  also  a  broken  or  short  firing  pin.     Frequently  the  be- 
ginner will  mistake  a  misfire  due  to  an  obstruction  between 
the  face  of  the  bolt  and  the  breech  for  one  due  to  a  broken 
firing  pin.    He  should  remember  that  the  latter  is  a  first  posi- 
tion stoppage  and  the  former  a  second  position  stoppage.     A 
misfire  due  to  a  broken  firing  pin  will  not  show  any  indenta- 
tion on  the  primer.       The  second  position  stoppage  almost 
invariably  shows  a  slight  indentation. 

106.  Failure  to  extract. — A  stoppage  in  the  first  position 
with  an  empty  case  in  the  chamber  is  due  to  insufficient  gas. 
Insufficient  gas  in  turn  may  be  due  to  the  gas  ports  not  being 
properly  registered  or  being  partially  clogged,  or  to  exces- 
sive friction  because  of  lack  of  oil  and  dirty  chamber.     When 
there  is  sufficient  gas  to  properly  function   the  rifle,  but  the 
chamber  is  very  dirty,  the  bolt  will  be  driven  back  with  such 
force  that  the  extractor  will  cut  through  the  rim  of  the  cart- 
ridge and  a  third  position  stoppage  will  result,  because  the 
feed   rib   goes  back  and   gets   a  new   cartridge   and  jams   it 
against  the  head  of  the  one  which  was  left  in  the  chamber. 

Second   Position. 

107.  Failure   to   fire. — Cause,   obstruction   lodging  between 
face  of  bolt  and  the  breech,  thus  holding  firing  pin  away  from 
primer.       Primer  will  be  slightly  dented.     This   stoppage  is 
typical.      When  the  piece  stops  in  the  second  position  always 
look  for  an  obstruction  either  on  the  face  of  the  bolt  or  in 
breech  recess  where  bolt  and  receiver  join.       Most  frequent 
obstruction  is  the  blown  primer.      Often  it  is  difficult  to  see. 

41 


Frequently  it  drops  off  as  the  bolt  is  drawn  back.  If  the 
stoppage  recurs  you  may  be  sure  that  an  obstruction  is  in  the 
rifle  between  the  face  of  the  bolt  and  the  breech  or  between 
bolt  lock  and  receiver  top-plate. 

108.  Mechanism  wedged  fast  in  second  position  or  begin- 
ning of  third  position. — This  is  a  rare  stoppage.     Slide  can- 
not be  moved  forward  or  back.    This  stoppage  happens  when 
any  obstruction  gets  between  one  of  the  bolt  supports  and 
the  bolt  lock  during  the  beginning  of  the  first  phase.       As 
the  slide  is  driven  to  the  rear  by  the  force  of  the  explosion 
the  bolt  lock  is  wedged  by  the  obstruction.     This  stoppage 
has  been  caused  by  blown  primers  and  by  a  piece  of  metal 
broken  off  from  the  rear  slotted  end  of  the  firing  pin  chan- 
nel wall.     To  reduce  it,   (a)   remove  trigger  mechanism,  gas 
cylinder  and  recoil  spring;  (b)  tap  on.  rear  end  of  slide  with 
piece  of  wood  or  a  pewter  hammer  until  bolt  lock  locks.    Re- 
move obstruction.     Do  not  hammer  with  steel  or  iron. 

Third  Position. 

109.  Cartridge  jam. — Due    (a)    to   deformed   cartridge;    (b) 
to   loaded    cartridge    being   held    out   of   chamber   by    empty 
case  which  was  not  extracted;    (c)  to  failure  to  eject  prop- 
erly, empty  case  remaining  in  the  ejection  opening. 

Such  failure  to  properly  eject  is  caused  by  insufficient  gas 
or  by  failure  of  extractor  to  hold  cartridge  in  such  position 
that  it  will  be  properly  struck  by  the  ejector.  Weak  extrac- 
tor spring  or  burred  shoulder  of  extractor  or  extraneous  mat- 
ter in  seat  of  shoulder  of  extractor  are  the  causes  of  the 
failure  of  the  extractor  to  properly  hold  cartridges  for  the 
ejector. 

This  same  stoppage  will  occur  when  there  is  insufficient 
gas  to  drive  the  bolt  baclt  with  enough  force  so  that  the 
ejector  may  be  struck  with  sufficient  force  by  the  cartridge 
to  cause  ejection. 

Fourth  Position. 

110.  One   fourth  position   stoppage,   developed  so  far,  has 
been  in  the  case  of  blown  primers  wedging  themselves  be- 
tween the  point  of  the  ejector  and  the  face  of  the  bolt,  thereby 
holding  the  bolt  and  mechanism  back  in  the  fourth  position. 

111.  Another  fourth  position   stoppage  is  where  the  piece 
is  cocked  and  the  trigger  mechanism  will  not  release  the  sear 
when  set  at  (A)  or  (F).    This  is  due  to  a  broken  sear  spring, 

42 


a  broken  or  lost  connector,  an  improper  assembling  of  the 
sear  spring,  or  to  any  cause  which  has  the  effect  of  moving 
the  middle  prong  of  the  sear  spring  too  far  to  the  front,  with 
respect  to  the  connector,  so  that  the  connector  is  not  cammed 
under  tail  of  sear. 

LESSON  X. 
CARE  AND  PRESERVATION. 

112.  Introduction. — The  instructor  will  impress  on  the  men 
the  vital  necessity   for  cleaning  and   caring  for  the  weapon. 

113.  Explanation-demonstration. — He     will     explain     and 
demonstrate   the    care   and   preservation   of   the   bore,   as   set 
forth  in  the  Small  Arms  Firing  Manual  (care  must  be  taken 
not  to  allow  any  of  these  solutions  to  remain  in  the  rifle,  par- 
ticularly in  the  gas  system).     The  test  given  below  on  points 
to  be   observed   before,   during  and   after   firing,   will   be   ex- 
plained and  demonstrated  by  the  instructor  and  imitated  by 
the  students;  the  latter  will  be  required  to  memorize  same. 
They  will  be  questioned  as  in  previous  lessons. 

114.  Whenever   the   pieces   are   cleaned   they  will   be   thor- 
oughly inspected  before  being  assembled. 

Points  to  Be  Observed. 

115.  Before  firing: 

(1)  Test  trigger  mechanism  at  safe    (A)  and  (F). 

(2)  See  that  bore  is  clear  and  clean. 

(3)  Work  slide  back  and  forth  rapidly  several  times  to  see 
that  it  moves  free!,    and  does  not  stick. 

(4)  Test  ejector  and  extractor  with  dummy  or  empty  case. 

(5)  Verify  proper  setting  of  gas  port. 

(6)  Verify  oiling. 

(7)  Verify  cleaning. 

(8)  Examine  magazines  and  eliminate  faulty  ones. 

(9)  See  that  kit  contains   oil  can  full  of  oil  and  full  com- 
plement  of   spare   parts. 

116.  During  firing: 

(1)  Keep  magazines  and  chamber  protected  from  dirt. 

(2)  Do  not  allow  rifle  to  become  dry. 

(3)  Clean  bore  and  gas  system  frequently. 

117.  After  firing: 

(1)  Remove  loaded  magazine  and  replace  with  empty. 

(2)  Let  bolt  forward. 

(3)  Wipe  out  bore  and  oil  rifle. 

(4)  Thoroughly  clean  rifle  at  first  opportunity. 

43 


PART  THREE. 
ELEMENTARY   DRILL. 

GENERAL  REMARKS. 

118.  The  Browning  automatic  rifle  team  consists  of  a  gun- 
ner, who  is  team  commander,  and  two  carriers  (a  loader  and 
a  scout). 

A  squad  consists  of  two  teams  under  a  corporal. 
A  section  consists  of  two  squads  under  a  sergeant  who  is 
section  leader. 

Outline  of  Training  of  Automatic  Rifle  Section. 
(Read  paragraphs   1-6  I.   D.    R.). 

119.  The  training  of  the  automatic  rifle  section  is  divided 
into  four  phases: 

(1)  Instruction  of  the  individual. 

(2)  Training  of  the  rifle  team. 

(3)  Training   of  the   squad. 

(4)  Training  of  the  section. 

120.  All  members  of  the  rifle  squad  should  be  strong,  husky 
men  on  account  of  the  very  heavy  equipment  of  the  automatic 
rifleman.     They  should  be  intelligent  men  and  expert  shots, 
otherwise  full  advantage  will  not  be  taken  of  the  great  power 
of  this  weapon. 

INSTRUCTION  OF  THE  INDIVIDUAL. 
Who   Receives   It. 

121.  All  members  or  tne  automatic  rifle  section  should  re- 
ceive such  instruction  that  any  one  of  them  will  be  able  to 
act  as   gunner  and  to  keep   the  piece   in  action  should  the 
others  be  disabled. 

Scope  of  Instruction. 

122.  The  instruction  of  the  individual  should  cover: 

(1)  A  thorough  knowledge  of  mechanism,  stoppages  and 
immediate  action. 

(2)  Firing  positions. 

(3)  Marching  fire. 

44 


(4)  Use  of  sling. 

(5)  Loading. 

(6)  Marksmanship   (prescribed  elsewhere). 

(7)  Filling  magazines. 

(8)  Target    designation    and    preparation    of    range    cards 
(prescribed   elsewhere). 

(9)  Ability  to  recognize  and  choose  the  best  positions  for 
the  automatic  rifle  (prescribed  elsewhere). 

(10)  Such   technique   and  theory  of  fire  as  applies   to   the 
automatic  rifle.     This  includes  auxiliary  aiming,  use  of  night 
firing  box,  etc.  (prescribed  elsewhere). 

Firing  Positions. 

From  the   Shoulder. 

123.  When   fired  from  the   shoulder  the   position   with   the 
Browning  automatic  rifle,  prone*,  sitting,  kneeling  and  stand- 
ing, is  a  modification  of  that  used  with  the  service  magazine 
rifle. 

124.  When  firing  with  automatic  setting   (exceptional)   the 
soldier  will  lean  into  the  piece  as  he  would  lean  into  a  strong 
wind.     The   effect  of  the  recoil  is  that  of  a  strong,  steady 
push  against  the  firer. 

Adjustment  of  Sling  for  Marching  Fire. 

125.  The   gunner  having  previously  adjusted   the   sling,   as 
to  length,  grasps  same  at  the  middle  with  his  left  hand  and 
allows  the  rifle  to  hang  by  the  sling  with  the  barrel  down, 
raises  rifle  with  left  hand  and  slips  sling  over  the  head  and 
on  to  the  left  shoulder,  at  the  same  time  passing  right  hand 
through  the  sling  and  grasping  receiver  at  ejection  opening. 
He    then    turns    rifle    counter-clockwise    and    with    the    right 
hand  passes  rear  end  of  sling  to  rear  and  under  butt  so  that 
it  extends  from  rear  sling  swivel,  along  right  side  of  stock, 
behind  the  back  and  over  the  left  shoulder,  thence  to  front 
sling  swivel.     The  gunner  having  adjusted  the  sling  inserts 
the  butt  in  the  butt  support.     (See  Plate  II). 

126.  The   sling  should  be   of  such  length  as   to  hold  the 
rifle  barrel  horizontal  when  the  rifle  is  not  supported  by  the 
gunners'  hand. 

127.  For  close  order  the  sling  should  be  of  such  length  as 
to  allow  the  rifle   to  be   carried  behind   the  right  shoulder, 
with  the  sling  passing  over  the  right  shoulder  only.     For  ex- 

45 


tended  order,  the  rifle  is  always  slung  as  for  Marching  Fire. 
The  rifle  should  be  so  slung  at  any  preparatory  command  for 
inarching. 

128.  During  the  execution  of  the  Manual,  the  rifle  is  kept 
at  the  order  arms. 

Marching   Fire. 
(See    Plate    III.) 

129.  The   following  position   is   prescribed   for   firing  while 
marching.     The  sling  adjusted  as  described  above  (paragraph 
125),  left  hand  grasps  forearm,  thumb  extended  along  fore- 
arm, sling  pulled  taut.     Right  hand  just  in  front  of  comb  of 
stock  with  fore-finger  in  trigger  guard.    The  rifle  being  firmly 
supported  by  the  butt  support  and  the  sling,  directed  with  the 
left  hand  and  fired  with  the  right. 

130.  The  above  described   position   should   always  be   used 
in    marching   fire   when   the    gunner   is    provided  with   a  butt 
support.       It  has  been  found,  when  the  butt  support  is  lost 
or  not  available,  that  the  gun  may  be  fired  while  marching  by 
placing  the  butt  of  the  rifle  in  the  pit  of  the  stomach  and  sup- 
porting the  rifle  with  the  sling  in  a  similar  manner  to  that 
described    above.      The    firer    should   bend    over   well    at    the 
waist  and  bend  his  knees  slightly  while  firing. 

131.  Firing   with    the    butt    of    the    rifle    in    the    pit    of   the 
stomach  is   an  uncomfortable  position   for   some  men.     The 
rifle   may  be   fired  by   adjusting  the   sling  as   before,   except 
that  it  is  shortened  so  as  to  support  the  forward  end  of  the 
rifle  when  the  butt  is   held  under  the  arm  pit.     The  butt  is 
raised   well    up    under    the    arm    pit    and    the    stock   clamped 
with  the  right  arm.     The  rifle  is  pushed  forward  against  the 
sling  until   the  latter  gives   it  a  steady   support. 

132.  Any    position    but    that    prescribed    in    paragraph    129 
(from  the  hip,  using  butt  support),  is  to  be  regarded  as  excep- 
tional and  should  not  be  used  except  when  the  gunner  has  no 
butt  support. 

133.  After   the   soldier   has    been    thoroughly   instructed   in 
the   position,  while   at   the   halt,   he   will   simulate   fire   while 
marching  (commands  and  signals  for  firing,  those  prescribed 
in  I.  D.  R.,  except  as  noted  hereafter).    The  gunner  advances, 
firing  as   either   foot  strikes  the   ground   and  between   steps. 
He  keeps  his   eyes  on   the   target  and  corrects   elevation  by 
observation  ©f  impact. 

46 


PLATE  II. 
The  sling  adjusted  for  marching  fire. 


47 


PLATE  III. 
Position  for  firing  from  hip,  using  butt  support. 


48 


TRAINING  OF  THE  GUN  TEAM. 
Scope   of  Training. 

134.  The  rifle  team  should  be  so  trained  as  to  get  maximum 
efficiency  out  of  the  efforts  of  the  individual  members.  This 
requires  co-ordination  of  all  their  activities.  The  training 
should  include  the  following: 

(1)  Drill. — Taking  up  different  formations  and  the  duties 
of  the  gunner  and  ammunition  carriers. 

(2)  Maneuvering  through  the  various  formations  of  close 
order  drill  suitable  for  use  with  the  automatic  rifle  team  and 
the   thorough   training   of   the   gunner   and   carriers   in   their 
duties  in  each  of  the  several  formations. 

(3)  Utilization  of  natural  features  as  regards  cover. 

(4)  Service  of  the  piece  by  two  members  of  the  team  and 
by  one  man  alone.    Exchange  of  magazines  by  first  and  second 
carriers  and  loading  of  magazines  while  in  position. 

(5)  Advance  of  the  team  as  a  whole. 

(6)  Advance  of  the  team  moving    forward  one  man  at  a 
time. 

(7)  Transmitting  of   fire   orders   from   a   corporal   or   ser- 
geant to  the  gunner  by  the  first  carrier. 


Formation   of   the  Team. 

135.  For  drill,  the  team  is  formed  in  single  rank.   The  team 
acting  alone  maneuvers  on  the  gunner  as  the  base.     Post  of 
the    first    carrier   is   by   the   gunner's   side   and   on   his    right. 
When  the  team  is  deployed,  the  first  carrier  (loader),  .at  any 
command  or  signal  for  firing,  places  his  left  hand  on  the  gun- 
ner's shoulder  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  alignment  and 
interval  and  transmitting  signals.    The  second  carrier  (scout) 
posts  himself  on  a  flank  five  paces  to  the  right  or  left  of  the 
gunner. 

136.  In  action  the  scout  should  be  on  the  most  exposed 
flank  as  a  rule.    For  the  purpose  of  drill-,  scouts  of  front  rank 
teams  post  themselves  on  the  right  of  the  gunner  and  scouts 
of  rear  rank   teams  on  the  left  of  the  gunner. 

49 


Duties  of  the  Members  of  the  Rifle  Team. 

137.  Gunner: 

(1)  To  direct  his  fire  on  the  target. 

(2)  To  assist  the  loader  in  loading. 

(3)  To  load  when  firing  alone. 

(4)  To  reduce  stoppages. 

(5)  To  hold  his  own  ammunition  as  a  reserve. 

(6)  To  clean  with  loader's  assistance. 

138.  First  Carrier  (loader): 

(1)  To  watch  for  signals  and  transmit  same  to  the  gunner. 

(2)  To  watch  for  stoppages  and  assist  in  reducing  same. 

(3)  To  call  magazine  when  the  one  in  use  is  empty. 

(4)  To  load. 

(5)  To  change  empty  magazines  for  full  ones.       This  ex- 
change is  made  by  bandolier  or  a  belt  with  the  scout,  cor- 
poral and  sergeant  successively. 

(6)  To  preserve  alignment  and  interval  for  gunner. 

(7)  To  assist  in  cleaning  rifle. 

139.  Second  Carrier  (scout) : 

(1)  To  exchange  magazines  with  loader. 

(2)  To  fill  empty  magazines. 

(3)  To  spot  shots  for  gunner. 

(4)  To  act  as  scout  and  protect  the  team  when  the  rifle  is 
out  of  action. 

To  Load. 

140.  Command. — 1.     MAGAZINE.     At   this   command   the 
gunner  inclines  the  barrel  to  the  left  and  releases  the  maga- 
zine catch.     He  then  cocks  the  piece. 

The  loader  habitually  marches,  when  deployed,  with  a 
loaded  magazine  in  his  right  hand,  base  in  palm  of  hand, 
thumb  pointing  in  same  direction  as  cartridges.  At  the  com- 
mand MAGAZINE,  he  withdraws  empty  with  left  hand  and, 
holding  it  with  last  two  fingers  in  the  palm  of  the  hand, 
grasps  trigger  mechanism  between  thumb  and  first  two  fin 
gers,  fingers  on  left  hand  side  (see  Plate  IV).  Thumb  and 
fingers  extend  slight  distance  in  front  of  trigger  mechanism 
so  as  to  assist  in  guiding  the  magazine.  He  inserts  and 
pushes  home  the  loaded  magazine  with  right  hand.  He  then 
returns  empty  magazine  to  pocket  and  draws  out  a  loaded 
one  which  he  carries  as  described  above. 

50 


Magazines  are  carried  in  pockets  with  cartridges  down  and 
bullets  in  one  pointing  in  opposite  direction  to  those  in  other. 

Loading  Exercise. 

141.  The  following  drill  should  be  given  to  perfect  the  team 
in  loading,  the  piece  being  loaded  and  cocked,  empty  maga- 
zines being  used  throughout. 

Command. — 1.  Magazine,  2.  FIRE.  At  (1)  the  piece  is 
loaded  as  prescribed  above.  At  (2)  the  gunner  aims  and 
fires.  These  commands  are  repeated  as  long  as  the  instructor 
desires. 


PLATE  IV. 
Position  of  loader's  fingers  on  trigger  guard,  when  loading. 

Firing. 
142.  Being  deployed,  to  commence  firing: 

(1)  Range,  300. 

(2)  Target,  enemy  patrol  at  one  o'clock. 

(3)  Rate   (so  many)   shots  per  minute. 

(4)  Commence  firing. 

(5)  Cease  firing,  or  suspend  firing. 

51 


i-J-3.  At  the  first  command  the  team  assumes  the  prone 
firing  position,  as  already  explained,  and  the  gunner  sets  the 
sights.  At  the  second  command  the  gunner  lays  on  the  tar- 
get. At  the  fourth  command  the  gunner  begins  firing  semi- 
automatically,  at  rate  prescribed,  unless  a  different  class  of 
fire  has  been  indicated.  During  the  firing  the  team  performs 
the  duties  explained  above.  At  the  command  cease  firing> 
the  rifle  is  set  at  safe.  Sight  leaf  is  laid  down.  In  other 
respects  the  team  maintains  the  prone  position.  At  the 
command  suspend  firing  fire  is  stopped.  Pieces  are  held 
loaded  and  locked  in  a  position  of  readiness  for  an  instant 
resumption  of  firing. 

To  Lie  Down. 

144.  LIE  DOWN: 

(1)  Gunner    assumes    the    prone    firing    position,    as    pre- 
scribed in  the  Infantry  Drill  Regulations.     Adjusts  the  sling 
if  necessary. 

(2)  Loader    (first   carrier)    jumps   immediately  to   the   side 
of  the  gunner  and  drops  to  the  ground  ready  to  perform  his 
function   in    firing. 

(3)  The  scout  (second  carrier)  closes  at  once  to  five  yards 
from  the  gun  and  drops  to  the  prone  position  on  the  ground. 

Marching  Fire. 

145.  The  piece  is  habitually  loaded  when  the  team  is  de- 
ployed. 

Command.—!,  Marching  Fire,  2,  COMMENCE  FIRING, 
3.  CEASE  FIRING. 

At  (1)  the  gunner  brings  his  piece  to  the  marching  fire 
position  and  cocks  it.  The  loader  places  his  hand  on  the 
gunner's  right  shoulder.  At  (2)  the  team  takes  up  the 
march  (if  at  the  halt)  and  commences  firing,  semi-automatic 
fire. 

Field  Cleaning. 

146.  When   necessary  to   clean  the   rifle  in   the   field   or  a 
shell  hole  the  gunner  and  loader  clean  the  piece. 

Command. — 1,  Clean  2,  RIFLE.  At  (2)  gunner  throws  out 
the  cleaning  kit  and  starts  stripping  the  rifle.  The  first  car- 
rier opens  kit,  strips,  cleans  and  reassembles  the  gas  cylinder 
tube,  gas  cylinder,  etc.  The  gunner  continues  stripping  the 

52 


piece  and  cleans  the  barrel  (loader  should  have  finished 
cleaning  the  gas  cylinder  assembly  by  the  time  the  gunner 
finishes  the  bore).  Loader  then  cleans  the  bolt,  bolt  lock 
and  hammer  and  starts  on  the  piston  and  slide.  The  gun- 
ner thoroughly  cleans  receiver  and  reassembles  bolt  mechan- 
ism and  slide.  While  the  gunner  completes  assembling  the 
piece  the  first  carrier  oils  trigger  mechanism  and  packs  up 
cleaning  kit. 

The  scout  refills  empty  magazines. 

THE  SQUAD. 
Posts. 

147.  The  squad  is   formed  in   close  order  as   prescribed  in 
Infantry  Drill   Regulations,  with  a  team  in  each  rank.     The 
front  rank  team  is  known  as  team  A  and  the  one  in  the  rear 
rank  as  team  B. 

The  posts  then  in  close  order  are  as  follows: 

Front  Rank. — No.  1,  scout  (second  carrier),  No.  2,  loader 

(first  carrier),  No.  3,  gunner,  No.  4  corporal. 
Rear  Rank. — No.    1,   loader    (first   carrier),   No.   2,   gunner, 

No.  3,  blank  file,  No.  4,  scout  (second  carrier). 

Drill. 

148.  The  squad  drills  in  close  and  extended  order  as  pre- 
scribed in  the  I.  D.  R.,  except  as  herein  stated. 

Duties  of  the  Corporal. 

149.  (1)   To    watch    for    signals    from    section    or    platoon 
leader  and  repeat  same  back. 

(2)  To  assign  rifle  positions,  sectors  of  fire  and  to  desig- 
nate targets.  • 

(3)  To  exercise  general  supervision  over  rifle  teams. 

Deployments. 

150.  Being     in     line,     to     deploy. — 1.     As     Skirmishers,    2. 
MARCH. 

At  (1)  the  corporal  places  himself  in  front  of  his  squad,  if 
not  already  there.  At  (2)  team  A,  moving  at  a  run,  deploys 
abreast  of  and  on  the  right  of  the  corporal,  with  five-pace 
interval  between  skirmishers.  Team  B,  moving  at  a  run,  de- 

53 


ploys  abreast  of  and  on  the  left  of  the  corporal,  with  five 
paces  interval  between  skirmishers. 

This  deployment  places  the  corporal  between  his  teams,  a 
scout  on  both  flanks  and  each  loader  on  the  right  of  his 
gunner.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  posts  of  the  cor- 
poral and  scout  are  fixed  only  for  purposes  of  drill. 

151.  Being  deployed,  to  advance  by  rushes: 
Command.—!.    BY  TEAM  (ONE  MAN)  RUSH. 

The  squad  leader  gives  the  signal  ADVANCE  BY 
RUSHES,  as  prescribed  in  the  I.  D.  R.  and,  in  addition, 
holds  up  one  finger  if  the  advance  is  to  be  made  one  man  at 
a  time  and  three  fingers  spread  if  it  is  to  be  by  team.  If  the 
advance  is  by  team,  the  whole  team  rushes  forward  at  once, 
maintaining  their  normal  intervals.  If  the  rush  is  by  one 
man,  the  scout  is  the  first  to  go  forward.  He  advances  to 
the  position  he  wishes  to  occupy,  taking  advantage  of  all 
cover  afforded  by  the  terrain  or  by  intervening  shell  holes. 
In  general,  this  advance  should  not  be  more  than  fifty  yards. 
With  his  intrenching  tool  he  prepares  a  position  for  the  gun 
and  then  signals  to  the  gunner  "ready."  The  gunner  then 
advances  in  the  same  manner  and  opens  fire  as  soon  as  his 
gun  is  in  position,  the  scout  serving  the  rifle  until  the  loader 
arrives.  The  loader,  after  picking  up  all  magazines,  ad- 
vances. If  the  advance  is  made  from  a  trench  or  a  shell 
hole  each  man  should  leave  from  a  different  point,  as  a  sniper 
might  train  his  sights  upon  any  fixed  point  of  departure, 
shooting  each  member  as  he  appears,  successively. 

152.  Being  in  skirmish  line: 
Command. — 1.  Squad  columns,  2.  MARCH. 

Each  squad  leader  moves  to  the  front,  followed  in  suc- 
cession by  the  front  and  rear  ranks  in  single  file. 

Continuous  Fire. 

153.  Command.— 1.  Continuous  fire,  2.  COMMENCE  FIR- 
ING,  3.    CEASE  (SUSPEND)  FIRING. 

At  (2)  the  A  team  gunner  opens  fire.  Just  before  his.  maga- 
zine is  exhausted  the  A  team  loader  signals  COMMENCE 
FIRING  to  the  B  team;  the  rifles  thus  alternate  fire. 

They  will  habitually  fire  with  semi-automatic  setting. 

54 


Advancing. 

154.  When  firing  from  shell  holes  no  fixed  regulations  can 
be  prescribed.     The  members  of  the   team  conform  to  the 
principles  laid  down  above. 

155.  When  advancing  by  rushes,  by  team,  the  advance  of 
one  rifle  is  covered  by  the  fire  of  the  other. 

THE  SECTION. 

156.  The   section   executes   the   movements   and   firings   as 
explained  for  the  team  and  squad.     The  section  leader  nor- 
mally takes  post  in  rear  of  the  center  of  his  section  but  he 
may  go  wherever  his  presence  is  needed. 

157.  Except  in  marching  fire  the  section  will  seldom  act  as 
a  unit,  but  rather  as  two  squads  whose  action  will  be  super- 
vised by  the  sergeant  of  the  section.     The  duties  of  the  ser- 
geant will  thus  usually  be  those  pertaining  to  fire  direction 
rather  than  fire  control.     The  sergeant,  under  the  orders  of 
the  platoon  leader,  will  be  responsible  for  the  training  of 
the  section. 

158.  Being  in  skirmish  line: 
Command. — 1.  Section  column,  2.  MARCH. 

The  section  leader  moves  forward  through  the  center  of 
the  section.  The  squad  to  the  right  of  the  section  leader 
marches  to  the  left  and  follows  him  in  file;  the  squad  to  the 
left  marches  in  like  manner  to  the  right.  Each  section 
leader  then  conducts  the  march  of  his  section  in  double 
column  of  files. 

•  159.  Being  in  skirmish  line: 

Command. — 1.  Section  column  of  files.  2.  MARCH. 

The  section  leader  moves  forward  through  the  center  of 
the  section;  the  squad  to  the  right  of  the  section  leader 
marches  to  the  left  and  follows  him  in  file;  the  squad  to 
the  left  marches  to  the  right  and  follows  the  right  squad 
in  file. 


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